Thanks for this - good to know.ArriveCan is still active as a basic CBSA app where you can make your immigration declaration from. So when you deplane you go straight to the officer desks instead of fiddling with those stupid machines. It is not currently available for every port of entry but it is for Pearson and highly recommend its use.
I hope I'm wrong, but from reading the CBSA website, this does not seem to be true. My understanding is if you fill out your arrival documents/declaration on the app (up to 72 hours in advance) you still must use a kiosk to scan your passports, and then review and submit your final declaration. It will print a receipt which you can then take to the officer.ArriveCan is still active as a basic CBSA app where you can make your immigration declaration from. So when you deplane you go straight to the officer desks instead of fiddling with those stupid machines. It is not currently available for every port of entry but it is for Pearson and highly recommend its use.
I think the gist of this is, if you use the ArriveCan app to upload your documents and fill out your declarations in advance, you still need to use the kiosk, but that process will be simplified greatly. You would just need to - from what I've heard - scan your passport, confirm your declarations, and I guess (?) have your picture taken to get your receipt. Then most times you just hand over the receipt and don't have to see anyone at the desks.So you did have to do the machines with your passports and pictures and weren't able to use the arrivecan app?
This thread is so confusing to me.
If you use the ArriveCan app you go to the kiosk...scan your passport and take your picture. The kiosk gives you a paper that you then give to a CBSA officer. They either wave you through or send you to another officer who may ask you a couple of questions.So you did have to do the machines with your passports and pictures and weren't able to use the arrivecan app?
This thread is so confusing to me.
This.If you use the ArriveCan app you go to the kiosk...scan your passport and take your picture. The kiosk gives you a paper that you then give to a CBSA officer. They either wave you through or send you to another officer who may ask you a couple of questions.
If you do not use the ArriveCan app (it's optional now) you have to go to the kiosk and do your entire declaration. It then gives you the paper and from there the process is the same.
I highly recommend using the app. It makes the process easier and faster. A lot of people seem to have issues using the kiosks so doing it on your phone ahead of time is better for everyone.
The app is the same as the kiosk. The info is all the same. The difference is that by doing it on the app you do it at your leisure. Then you get through the process faster when you are actually on the ground. CBSA is not going to ask you about the app. By the time you get to the officers your info is printed on the paper you hand them…they don’t care how you did it.This.
We had ArriveCan but since there were plenty of empty kiosks we just used them and they worked fine.
No one asked us about the app at all. We just gave the officer the ticket from the kiosk, he glanced at them and just waved us thru with a "you're good".
I think the app would be useful if there were huge lineups and/or the kiosks were having issues. Otherwise it's not needed.